Keep your friends close and your enemies closer... England and Australia mix it up on New Year's Day celebrations in Sydney after meeting Prime Minister Abbott with WAGs (but tourists shun nets - is that wise, lads?)

England and Australia sent a full complement of players and partners to Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s official Ashes reception at his Sydney residence Kirribilli House on New Year’s Day - and seemed to leave any tension on the field.

Beaten and demoralised in Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth and Melbourne, Alastair Cook's side looked relaxed as they were treated to a reception at the picturesque house beside the Harbour Bridge, and even managed a smile when lined up beside their rivals.

Captain Cook met Prime Minister Abbott
with his wife Alice, who is expecting a baby, along with Australia
skipper Michael Clarke and wife Kyly, plus David Warner and partner
Candice Falzon.

Scroll down to watch PREVIEW: The Ashes fifth Test with Johnson, Haddin and Borthwick

Mixing it up: Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott (centre) poses with the Australian and English teams

Relax: The players and their partners enjoys drinks during the New Year's Day reception

However, England decided to skip their scheduled New Year's Day net practice two days before the final Test in Sydney in which they will try to avoid their second Ashes whitewash in three series Down Under.

They did do extended fielding drills and catching practice on the outfield and Cricket Australia was quick to flag up the 'surprising decision'.

'In the midst of an Ashes annihilation, England decided a net session was unnecessary two days out from the fifth and final Commonwealth Bank Ashes Test in Sydney,' its website read.

'Following their capitulation in Melbourne, the tourists' surprising decision on Wednesday means they'll have just one session on game eve to attempt to paper over the cracks and stop Australia completing only the third 5-0 whitewash in Ashes history.'

It fell to Scott Borthwick, who is set to make his England debut at the SCG, to explain the team's decision to leave batting and bowling practice for another day.

'We just had a nice run around, bit of catching ... we'll do our skills tomorrow.'

Borthwick
is poised to complete a remarkable journey from Durham to a Test debut
at the SCG via a spell of grade cricket, and could be the man to fill
the void in England’s spin bowling left by the retirement of Graeme
Swann.

Borthwick, rushed into the squad along with James Tredwell when Swann quit mid-Ashes series, has an excellent chance of replacing the disappointing Monty Panesar.

‘It’s been an amazing couple of weeks and I’m thrilled,’ said Borthwick, a three-dimensional cricketer as he is also an athletic fielder.

‘Obviously I’d seen that Graeme Swann had retired but I didn’t think anything of it. I certainly didn’t think I would be here today, but I got the call and I’m excited to be here.’

Keep going: Cook, seen here meeting Abbott with pregnant wife Alice, is being tipped by some to continue as captain and build his own side

Down time: England players relax in the garden at Kirribilli House ahead of the fifth and final Test

Happy days: Warner and partner Candice Falzon at the reception in Sydney

Asked how England may be coping after their run of defeats, the Australia vice-captain Brad Haddin said: 'I don't think they're in a great place, to be perfectly honest.

'I think you can probably tell a bit of that in their fielding the other day. I think that's the first thing to go when you're struggling a bit.

'All those little 'one-per-centers' are the first thing to go when you're struggling as a team.'

The onus is on England to prove Haddin wrong, and he is happy to keep it that way.

'They can ask themselves those questions," he said. 'They're the only ones who can come up with the answers.'

Greetings: Kevin Pietersen, who has frustrated some with his performances so far in the Ashes, meets PM Abbott

Victorious: Australia players looked in a good mood with the Prime Minister ahead of the fifth Test

Determined: England will be desperate to avoid a repeat of the 5-0 whitewash of 2007